Telephone ringing apparatus.



W. E. BUTLER. TELEPHONE BINGING APPARATUS.

APPLICIATIOR rum) APB-.30, 1910. Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

n NM 8 Inventor Witnesses I I Attorneys W. E. BUTLER.

TELEPHONE RINGING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1910.

1,01 6,546. Patented Feb. 6, 1912 4 SHEEN-SHEET 2.

U r I Attorneys I W. E. BUTLER. TELEPHONE RINGING APPARATUS. urmcumn rum, um. 30, mo.

' Patented F6116, 1912.

4 mama-sum a.

wltnesses 43 47 by g l Attorney;

W. E. BUTLER. TELEPHONE RINGING APPARATUS. NPLIOATIOR FILED APR. 30, 1 910.

Inventor by I 1 m-- Attorneys Patented Feb. 6, 1912 4 sums-sum: 4

l 55 1 tiv'e relation to the polar 1 signaling.

1. Fig.

may be carried WILLIAM E. BUTLER, OF DAVID CITY, NEBRASKA.

TELEPHONE RINGING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

Application filed April 30, 1910. Serial No. 558,597.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, VVILLIA'M E. BUTLER, l a citizen of the United States, residing at David Cit in the county of Butler and State of ebraska, have invented a new and useful Telephone Ringing Agiparatus, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention has reference to improvements in telephone ringin apparatus and is desi ed more particuiilrly for use in connection with telephone switch boards for the production of ringing currents of various characters whereby selective signaling is obtained.

The present invention relates more particularly to the generator of such currcnts whereby positive and sharp makes and breaks of a circuit charged by a generator of constant currents are obtained to cause the generation of alternating or pulsating currents which may be utilized for selective The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings,

-Figure 1 is a lan view of a generating apparatus embo ying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of the structure of Fig. 1. I ig. 3' is a lan view of a somewhat different form of apparatus than that shown in Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of difierent forms of circuit making and breaking devices. Fig.- 8 is a sectional view of a mercury cup showing a means of preventing over filling of the cup. i

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a'base or support 1, which however is only indicative and may be varied as desired or even omitted, since the parts carried by the base by other structures. Fast on the base 1 is an upright 2 to which may be secured the yoke 3 of a horseshoe electromagnet 4, thisform of electromagnet being the specific form illustrated in the drawings, but it will be understood that other forms of magnets maybe used if desired. On the base there is also erected a post 5 to which is secured a spring arm 6 projecting above the post and carrying at its-upper free end an armature! in, operacnds of the magnet 4. The spring arm 6 also. carries a strip 8 extending across the base parallel therewith and at the ends carrying arms 9 about midway the length of the latter, these arms being substantially length of the strip 8.

The ends of the arms 9 carry downwardly extending fingers 10. The strip'8 is made of insulating material and the arms 9 may be made of conducting material, orthe strip be made of conduct- 8 and the arms 9 may 9 maybe suitably ing material and the arms insulated from the strip 8. Each finger 10 at the lower end enters a cup 11 made either of' iron or of insulating material such as glass or porcelain and each on contains a quantity of mercury indicate end of the finger 10 entering the cup being normally slightly above the upper surface 12, and overlying the latter of the mercury is a layer 13 of oil or other suitable nonconducting material adapted to I prevent sparking. In Fig. 1 four cups 11 are shown and for convenience of description these cups will be designated 11, 11", 11, and 11.

Carried by the standard 5 is a block 14 to which is secured a'contact spring 15 in the path of a contact 16 on the cross piece 8. The spring 15 is controlled by a. back stop screw 17 on a bracket 18 carried by the block 14. Extending from the contact 15 is a conductor 19 leading to a battery 20 or other suitable source of current and from this battery leads a conductor 21'to the electromagnet- 4 and from the latter there leads a conductor 22 to the contact 16 carried by the strip 8. The magnet 4 withits armaatright angles to the at 12, the

tnre 7 and the contacts 15 and 16 and the circuit included therein constitute a rheotomc which, so long as the circuit of the battery 20 is closed through "the magnet 4 by way of the rhcotome, as by a suitable switch 23 in the conductor 19 or elsewhere in the circuit. will cause a vibratory movement of the strip 8, the spring 6 tending to maintain the contacts 15 and 16 in closed relation and the attractive force of the magnet 4 tending to open the circuit at these contacts. In this manner a rapid vibratory movement of the strip 8 is brought about, the rate of vibration depending upon the proportions of the parts. Each time the strip 8 is moved toward the magnet 4 the fingers 10 at the magnet and ofthe arms 9 dip in the mercury in the cups 11' and 11 and when the strip 8 is tral station.

- ground by together again the fingers 10 at the other ends of the arms 9 dip into the mercury in the cups 11 and 11.

In the particular arrangementshown in Fig. 1 there is a line wire 2; which may leadto the switch board and this line wire is connected to a binding post 25 which in turn is connected by a flexible conductor 26 to the arm 9 at the corresponding ends of the strip 8. The binding post 25 is also connected by a conductor 27' to one side of a battery 28 or other suitable source of electric energy. The other side of this battery is connected by a conductor 29 to a binding post 30 on the other side of the base from the binding post 25 and this'binding post is connected by a conductor 31 leading also to the switch b'oard. The binding post 30 is also connected by a flexible conductor 32 to the other arm 9. The mercury cup 11 is connected by a conductor 33 to the mercury cup 11 and the latter connected by a conductor 34 to-the switch board and this conductor may also be connected to ground by a branch conductor 35. The cups 11 and 11 are connected together by a conductor 36 while the cup 11" is connected by a conductor 37 to the switch board. The battery 28 or other source of constant current is of sutficient power to actuate the ringing devices designed to be energized from the cen The battery 20 need only be powerful enough to operate the rheotome on the base 1.

In Fig. 2 the parts are shown in the intermediate position, that is with both fingers 10 at the two ends of each arm 9 out of engagcment with the mercury 12, but in operation the fingers 10 at the corresponding ends .of the arms 9 are at one instant in the mercury in the cup 11 and 11 and the next instant the other pair of fingers are in the cups 11" and 11. Let it be assumed that the fingers at the magnet ends of the arms 9 are dipping in the mercury in the cups 11' and 11 then the circuit may be traced as fal lows: from the battery 28 by way ofthe conductor 27 to the binding post 25 then by l way of the conductor 26 to the correspondthe latter through the finger 10 then dipping in the mercury in the cup 11 to the lat er, then by way of the conductor 33 to the cup 11", and thence by the conductor 34 to the switch board or to the conductor 35, the circuit returning by way of the conductor 37 to the mercury (ups ll fllltl 11,these two cups being connected by the eonductoqzBG, thence to the other arm 9 by the fi'nger- 0. dipping in the mercury in the cup 11 tllE/Itbfi' by way of the conductor 32 to the binding post 30 and returning to the battery 28 way of the conductor 29. If it be assumed that a ing arm 9 and from positive impulse is directed from the batter;

28 by way of the conductor 27 then a positive impulse will pass by way of the conductor 24. and the return circuit will be by' way of the conductor 37. At the next instant the tin ers dipping in the cups 11 and 11 have en removed from these cups and the fingers entering the cups 11" and 11 are moved into the mercury therein. There is then established a circuit from the battery 28 by way of the conductor 27 to the binding post 25 and by way of theconductor 26 to the armfibutin thisinstance the circuit is completed to the cup 11 and the positive impulse passes to the switch board by way of the conductor 37, the circuit returning by way of the ground 35 and the conductor 34 or solely by the conductor 34 to the cup 113 thence by the finger 10 to the corresponding arm 9 and thence by way of the conductor 32 to the binding'post 30 and finally by way of the conductor 29 back to the battery 28.

It will be observed that the conductor 27 is connected directly tothe conductor 24 and that the conductor 29 is connected directly to the conductor 31 so that there is a con stant and unchanging difference of potential between the conductors 24 and 31 and there: fore constant current may be passed-to the switch board through these conductors, the outgomg be bythe conductor 24 and the return side of the circuit bythe conductor 31.

or-positive side being assumed to Constant current may be transmitted through the conductors 24 and 31 to suitable ringing devices controlled from the switch board in the usual manner while alternating impulses will traverse the conductors 3t and 37 or the ground 35. By the utilization of mercury contacts it is found in practice that the impulses are sharp and clear cutwith resultant increase in efliciency and a sharpness of response from the signal devices not obtainable with currents as usually generate In the structure shown in Fig. 3, which figure is largely diagrammatic, the general arrangement is such as illustrated in Fig. 1, but the arms 9 are replaced by other arms 38 which are not designed to carry any current. These arms 38 terminate in downwardly extended pairs of fingers 39 best shown in Fig. 4. Instead of the mercury caps 11 there are provided mercury cups 40 either of insulating material or linedwith insulating material. structure shown these cups are elongated and are eachprovided with a central parti- 120 In the particular The stantially level with or slightly above the top of tie partition 41, but, because of the characteristlc of mercury to depress at the edges where engaging certain substances, the edges of the mercury where engaging the partition 41 will not, be quite to the top of such partitiom' It is not mandatory that these compartments he so completely filled with mercury, but. they should he sulficicntly filled so that when a displacing body is introduced into the compartments the rise of the mercury due thereto will cause an overflow at the partition 41 so that the two mercury bodies are brought into electrical coalition. It is the otfice of the fingers 39,

which are made of insulating material in the particular construction shown, to enter the bodies of mercury in the compartments of each cup 40, jt'liese nercury bodies being indicated at 42, and to cause such a rise'of "the-tnercury by displacement as to unite the two mercury bodies over the edge of the partition 41. The rocking movement of the arms 38 under the action of the magnet'a is sutlicicnt to cause this action of the'fingers 39. Since the cups 40 maybe made of insulating material, electricalconnection with the mercury contents of the cups may-be assing through the walls of the cups to the interior thereof. Since the cups-are in eifect'twin cups each cup constitutes terminals of electric' conductors to be bridged by the overflow of the mercuryabove the partition 41. This necessitates a somewhat different arrangement of the conductors than in the form shown in Fig. 1. The battery :28 is connected to the conductm's 27 and 29 and by way of the latter to the conductors 24c and 31 respectivelv in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. One end of the battery 28 is connected by a conductor 44 to one side of one of the cups 40, which cups are'four in number and in Fig. 3 are designated by the numerals 4:0, 40?. 40, and 40 as in Fig. 1 for the cups 11. The conductor 44 is thereforeconnccted to one compartment of the cup 40 while the other compartment of this same cup is connected by a conductor 4Zi to one compartment of the cup 40 and the other compartment. of this last named cup is connected by. a conductor 46 to the. other side of the battery28. Tlie'com.l|ietoi- 37 leading to the switch board is connected to the conductor 45. Branched otFfrom the binding post to which the conductors 29 and 31 are connected is a conductor 47 leading to one compartment of the cup 40 while the other compartment of this same cup is connected by a conductor 48 to one compartment of the cup 40". The binding post connet-ting the condu tors 27 and 24 is connected by a conductor 49 to one compartment of the cup 40, this being the other compartment other suitable shape. This cup may bethan the one connected to the conductor 48 and the latter conductor is coupled to the conductor 34 leading to the switchboard.

\Vith the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 let it be assumed that the magnet ends of the arms 38 are depressed so that electrical connection is bad through the cups 40 and 40. then the circuit may be traced as follows.

by way of the conductor 44 to the cup 40 and from the latter by way of the conductor 45 to the conductor 37, returning by way of the ground 35 or the conductor 34 to the conductoi 48 thence through the cup 40 and finally by 'uvay of the conductors 47 and 29 back to the battery .28. It the arms 38 be -rocked in the other direction, then the cir cuit may be traced from the battery 28 by way of the conductor 46 to the cup 40, thence by way of the conductor 45 to the conductor 37, this being assumed to be a negative impulse, while the circuit is completedthrough the conductor 34, conductor 4$, cup40 f,'contlilctoi-s 49 and 27 back to the battery 28."

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 constant current will flow from the battery 28 byway of the conductors 2.7 and 24 and by way of the conductors 29 and 31 as in Fig: 1.

In Fig. 5 there is. shown an arm 9 with fingers 10. where the arm and fingers are both made of conducting material so that they all may be included in the circuit, In Fig. 6"the fingers 10 are provided with insulating extremities 50 which may at all times (lip in the mercury and it is only when the fingers 10 reach the mercury sur- -fa'ce that the circuit is conq'ileted. Or this same construction may be utilized for displacement purposes where for mechanical reasons it is pref rred to make the. arm 9 it is not desirable that. the current pass through these fingers. Again the point of the fingers may be made of insulating material as indicated at 51 in Figf 7 where the points are conical. and at their upper orfacing ends are each formed with a cavity 51 designed to receive a small quantity of mercury when the finger is first i dippcd into the mass of mercury and this mercury -will maintain constant contactwith the stem holdin the insulating point 50 so that when the fi hger is finally dipped -into the. mercury there is already good contact between the mercury in the cup end 51 and the stem supporting the same while the circuit is readily completed by the coalescence of the mercury within the cup end 5] and that within the main cup 11.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a cup which may only be titled to a certain height. In this structure the cup body is shown at 52 and may be considered as cylindrical or any made of insulating material or of iron or From the battery '28 the current will flow and fingers 10, or the latter, of metal and of other suitable material as may be desired. Within the cup 52 in concentric relation to the walls thereof is another wall 53 inclosing a compartment 54 and a passage 55 through the wall 53 near the bottom thereof serves as a means of communication between the exterior chamber within the cup 52 and the chamber 54 within the wall 53. lVith this cup mercury is poured into the exterior chamber and finds its way into the interior chamber through the assage 53 but may only rise within the interior chamber to the level of the walls of the cup 52, which walls are of less height than the wall or partition 53. By this means the mercury within the compart1nent53 which compartment is assumed to be entered by a finger 10 or 39, may never reach a greater height than the outer walls of the cup 52 so that in pouring mercury within the cup y no adjustment further than the initial 9.

justment is required for the fingers 10 or 39 as the case may be.

In the operation of the apparatus the magnet 4 and arms 9 controlled thereby constitute an engine or motor which is assumed to be active whenever it is desirable to tansmit current, and under ordinary circumstances this motor will be constantly active, making and breaking the circuit at the mercury cups and only consuming the small amount of current necessary to keep it in operation. The ringing circuitsonly become complete when closed by the operator at the switch board in the usual manner.

What is claimed is 1. In a system such as described, a mercury terminal cup provided with a division wall dividing the cup into adjacent mercury compartments; and displacement means, at times out of contact with the inercur wit in the cup, for causing the overflow of the mercury with relation to the division wall.

2. In a system such as described, a source of direct current; a plurality of mercury cups diagonally connected in pairs; means for alternately coupling opposite ones of the cups of each pair to the respective terminals of said source of current; and a source of current, independent of the first named source, for actuating said means.

3. In a system such as described, a mercury cup having. a compartment for mercury within and spaced from the walls of the cup and communicatingwith the space between the compartment and the walls of the cup, said compartment being of greater height than the walls of the cup.

4. In a system-such as described, a mercury cup; at conductin finger adapted to dip into said cup; an an insulating ele-' ment upon the ,fin er, having a cavity adapted to receive t e mercury from the In testimon that I claim the foregoing as my own, I 'ave hereto afiixed my slgn'hture in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. BUTLER.

Witnesses:

E. J. Dwonax, C. J. Human.

but adapted. to enter the mercury, 

